Wilbur Johnson is planning to keep his basketball career alive on this side of the Atlantic next season.

All the in-form Brighton Bears centre does not yet know is which side of the English Channel he will be.

Johnson was reported in the national press to be considering retirement at the end of this season due to the pressure of being away from his wife and children.

Instead, he insists his plan is to continue in European basketball next term with his wife Elandra and their two daughters committed to leaving their Philadelphia home and joining him wherever he ends up.

One thing appears certain. He will not be playing in the BBL for any team other than the Bears.

With British citizenship just months away, the dream option would be to sign for a team in mainland Europe and secure a healthy pay rise to take him towards the end of his career.

Johnson, whose 35 points in last weekend's stroll at Leicester has been confirmed as a career best, said: "This is my sixth year in England and I am hoping to get my passport.

"European teams have been trying to get me over there for two or three years and if I get my passport I should have a chance if I keep playing halfway decent.

"This coming off-season will be make or break time for me. From what I am hearing I should double or even triple my money if get a contract in Europe.

"If I don't get fixed up, then there's a good chance I would come and play for the Bears. They could be playing in Europe anyway.

"If they had already signed all their players or we couldn't come to an agreement then I would not want to play for another team in the BBL.

"I would go home. My wife is working and I would have no problems getting a job. I would just go but Elandra has said if I keep playing she will come with me."

Ultimately Johnson, 28, would love to work in sports around his home city, possibly in a public relations role with the 76ers or one of his other local teams.

For the time being, the First Union Center and its equivalent on Brighton seafront have been joined on his list of special venues by the grey concrete maze that is Loughborough University.

It was there that he fired a 35-point tally which bettered anything in his six years in the BBL and his top collegiate score of 33 at St Joseph's.

His previous best for the Bears was 32 against Thames Valley two seasons ago, when fans held their Blue Towel Day in tribute to their big centre.

Sunday's routine 24-point win over the hapless Leicester Riders needed a sub-plot to make it memorable and Johnson's tally, along with young Oli Roche's debut for his local team, provided it.

Johnson hit 13 of 20 two-point attempts and sank an early three-pointer to go with 14 rebounds.

That clinched a seventh double-double in 18 league games this season but Johnson admitted there have been better performances.

He said: "I could have had 50. I missed lay-ups and jumpers and foul shots but I guess 35 will be nice to look at in the future."

Many fans want Johnson's No.25 shirt retired when he leaves. Nice idea. But there could be plenty more games, and a trophy or two, before that happens.